HP ProBook 4310s review

XP Mode

Your review mentions that Windows 7 Professional includes XP mode (for enhanced backward software compatibility). I thought that this feature requires a processor with hardware assisted virtualization. The T6570 does not include this feature according to the Intel website. Therefore XP mode should not be available on this laptop - right?

By BinghamStephen on 4 Dec 2009

Fanous last words?

Further to my comment above:

Some intel pages suggest that the T6570 supports virtualisation:

http://ark.intel.com/Product.aspx?id=42841

but others suggest the contrary:

http://processorfinder.intel.com/details.aspx?sSpe
c=SLGLL

well I'm confused... Has anyone actually tried XP mode with a T6570?

By BinghamStephen on 4 Dec 2009

Funnily enough...

I've tried it and it works perfectly. In fact, the only difference between the seemingly identical T6500 and T6570 processors is that the latter supports Intel VT-x.

One word of warning though. Once you've enabled virtualisation in the BIOS, make sure to completely power off the machine before you start Windows. If you just restart the laptop after making the necessary changes in the BIOS, VT-x won't be enabled.

By SashaMuller on 4 Dec 2009

Thanks

Thanks for the clarification Sasha. I'm sure I'm not alone in having obscure "technical" 1995-2000 vintage software that I need to keep using. Windows 7 "XP mode" virtualisation does sound very helpful on the face of it, but finding out which hardware supports it is not as straightforward as it should be. Apparently, even if the processor supports virtualisation some BIOS's don't allow it. For example, many recent Sony laptops need a BIOS upgrade to use XP mode it seems.

A couple of further comments:

A useful thing about the HP ProBook range is that they offer what seems to be a comprehensive range of XP drivers and utilities.

Readers might also look at the ProBook 5310m, which is more portable in style than the 4310s and only about £80 more.

By BinghamStephen on 4 Dec 2009

Probook 4320s

I am interested in the 4320s, but gather there may be issues with the touchpad/integrated buttons. Any comments?
Also, would you recommend the 4320 over the 4310, or vice versa, for general 'productivity' tasks?

By usera on 26 May 2010